Online Order Gone Bad?!

[flugelnuss]

I placed my very first online order yesterday. It came FedEx Priority Overnight this morning. There was a hole punctured thru both layers of the bags. The bottom of the shipping box was soggy but not dripping. There were only a few residual droplettes of water on the inside of the bag, which indicates that the animal may have been out of the water for some time. I called the online vendor and he told me that I would need to take pictures (which I did) and that he would give me a credit of just the coral and not of shipping.

Since there was nothing I could have done to prevent this situation, I don't believe it's reasonable that I'm expected to absorb the cost of shipping.

This is a pretty reputable online vendor to my knowledge. Should the vendor be expected to refund or credit the whole order including shipping? Thoughts? Experiences? Help?

Thanks in advance.

Jeff

 

[mojoreef]

Tough call Jeff, usually if you get on it right away you can put a claim on fedex.


MIke

 

[flugelnuss]

Mike - Unfortunately this wasn't a shipping issue. It was a packaging issue. FedEx delivered it on time and the box was intact.

Jeff

 

[Jeff]

Most retailers say very clearly that they don't refund shipping. If the box does not look damaged by fedEx I would defenatly argue to get the shipping charges back. If it truly is a reputable company they will do what it takes to make you happy. If not cash for shipping, maybe a good comprimise would be the shipping charge in credit?

 

[wrightme43]

Thats a real hard one to say. Most corals, and fish that I get shipped in have a bag, a layer of blue or black plastic and another bag. They are packed tightly in the box and then any space left over is filled with peanuts. I havent had any problems as yet. Maybe if you go a little further up the chain of command and try again you will get some satisfaction. Hope this helps. Steve

 

[flugelnuss]

Shipping couriers do not offer insurance on any perishable items such as live animals, therefore xxxxxxxxxx.com assumes you know this prior to having ordered

This is a direct quote from their website. There is no where on their saying that they won't refund shipping though.

The coral came in 2 bags with another one loosely around, but not wrapped around the coral. This is probably where the problem was.

Jeff

 

[Krish]

IMO if FedEx received the package intact (meaning not soggy) from the vendor then they should absorb the shipping cost because it happened in their hands... They accepted it so they should be responsible. If it was soggy when the vendor gave it to them they would not have accepted it. So I would talk to FedEx now. The vendor already agreed to give you a credit on the livestock. Now all you have to do is get FedEx to give you your money back on shipping or ship the next one free.

 

[wrightme43]

I tried that tack with a broken light system. Fedex is contracted with the shipper not the shippee, even though they use your money to pay for it. I got a little upset but what can you do. It ended up being a screwing and no more business for that company, Its weird too. Cause I tend to keep buying things from people that treat me even halfway decent, and at least act like they are concerned and say just simpley we tried all we could, and were sorry if your not happy. We will do X for you because your important to us. Usually its nothing that even costs them 10 bucks. Vs people that get all defensive like I am trying to take away their milk money. I spend lots with Marine Depot dry goods and I like them alot, always pleasant and easy to get along with. I am pretty sure you are not dealing with them. Its good that you didnt name the company before all the stuff gets worked out. That shows alot of restraint.

 

[flugelnuss]

Well the reason I am keeping the vendor anonymous is that the overall experience was really good. Up until the point of receiving the coral in a soggy box with an empty bag. They have been very kind and the communication has been excellent. I probably won't give up their name unless things take a turn for the worse.

But all is not lost yet. The owner just called me and said that he would extend the credit for the full amount if the coral doesn't make it. He said that even if it does make it, he'll extend free shipping on my next order (if I chose to place another order that is!)

Let's just keep our fingers crossed. It is a deep water acro, and I'm not sure how well it will do out of water for an unknown amount of time.

Jeff

 

[mojoreef]

Opps sorry Jeff I thought the box was damaged. Shipping live stuff is always a risk, and fedex can be brutal. Most of the big wholesaler wont touch them.
Still I would think the vendor would step up a little more. Maybe if you mentioned to vendor that you were going to contact fedex about the "Live goods they were shipping" ??????? thats a hint


Mike

 

[flugelnuss]

Well I took some pictures of it for him and he said that it looked alive still and that it was still fleshy. And again, he said that he would extend the credit if it didn't make it. I told him that I would probably give him a call by next week as I am going to Portland for the weekend.

But what could the mortality rate be in the long term since it was delivered without water? It is a deep water acro echinata. Right now I have it on the bottom to the side. It looks pretty white with some shades of light blue, but nothing like the deep blue in the pictures on the website. Although, it could be shipping stress and the fact that it was out of water.

 

[flugelnuss]

How does it look to you guys? Does it look like it might make it? This was a quick snap I took about an hour ago.

This is what it looked like on the website. I understand that it is probably stressed and that the lights are different, but the vendor says that it is fine.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[wrightme43]

Corals are tough, it may pull right thru. Was it still damp and slimey when you got it or dry?

 

[wrightme43]

If you have a black light shine that on it. I can see damage to the coral flesh really easy with one. Or it might be my imagination but it sure seems like it. I can definately tell where one acro has had the crap stung out of it by a giant mushroom I attacked with a razor blade today. Revenge....... LOL just a trim really. LOL

 

[flugelnuss]

I didn't touch the coral itself. Just the rock that it came on. It was a little damp, but not sopping wet. A bandit (white and black acro crab) is living inside of it and a few feather dusters are out. Some good news at least. I wish I had the opportunity to acclimate properly, but as you can guess, it had to go straight into water after a quick dip.

 

[o2manyfish]

Acros can spend hours out of the water under the tropcial sun during low tide. Your coral in a moist bag should be fine.

Years ago acros were shipped in the US wrapped only in damp newspaper - No water - in a bag.

Since the box was moist and not hot or dry - I think you should have a good chance of the coral doing well.

As for the shipping and the coral -- Having done internet sales, it's difficult to cover the shipping costs when the cost of the shipping is sometimes more than the value of the coral. And Fedex is notorious for not refunding anything.

Good Luck with both the coral and the claim.

Dave B

 

[flugelnuss]

Is it the same though with a deep water acro such as the echinata as opposed to the acros on the flats and lagoons? Do the deep water acros get exposed during low tide? I am only hoping good things at this point.

I really am not a trouble maker! Although when I was younger....

Jeff

 

[o2manyfish]

Making an assumption - With a deep water acro - The coral is the same life form - So logically it should not make a difference. The mechanics of the structure and tissue are the same - The ability to retain water should not be any different.

The coral in the photos - is NOT - a deep water Bali. Deep water Bali corals have very fine delicate branches and are open growing in a tabling shape to take more area for gathering light at depths -- Don't forget deep water corals while found down to 120ft are usually collected in 30 feet of water - Where non deep water corals - like typical Fiji are collect at depths of 3-4 feet. I have one Bali coral that is so delicate that just handling the coral breaks branches - It make a Monti Digi seem like a tough guy.

As for being a trouble maker.... I don't see it... But then again I am always causing trouble.

Dave B